MORPHOLOGY OF SPORES AND MOSS-CAPSULES OF SPHAGNOUS MOSSES OF THE SECTION ACUTIFOLIA WHS. FROM THE WESTERN SIBERIA

The article gives the description and analysis of both spores' and moss-capsules' morphology of б species belonging to the genus Sphagnum L. of the section Acutifolia Wils. growing within the West-Siberian plain. The investigations on the spore morphology were provided through the method of scanning electron microscope. The spores of S. fimbriatum, S. girgensohnii, S. rubellum, S. russowii, according to the sculpture and surface of exosporium, appear to be papillomious-knobby, the spores ofS. capillifolium -papillomopus-knobby with almost smooth exosporium at proximal side. The spores ofS. fuscum are generally papillomious. Radial grooves at the distal side in the spores of all species are absent. In spores of S. capillifolium wide folds are marked at distal side which look like radially situated open rings. Equatorial fold is absent in all species of the section or just vaguely expressed as in S. capillifolium. According to the size of a spore all species under investigation may be attributed to the category of small ones (18-26 micrometer). At visual assessment of both a moss-capsule and a spore colour, their species-specificity is established according to this character. For the moss-capsules of all species are typical all tints of dark-brown right up to almost black in S. fuscum and reddish in S. rubellum. The spores in the majority of species are brown, often with rustcoloured tint (S.fimbriatum, S. girgensohnii, S. rubellum).

Keywords

Authors

References